Positive vibes as France back on track after World Cup heartbreak

PARIS : Three months after a heartbreaking defeat in the World Cup final, France oozed class and confidence as they started their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign with a 4-0 thrashing of the Netherlands on Friday.

Antoine Griezmann opened the scoring with a curled shot from Kylian Mbappe before Dayot Upamecano added a second six minutes later. Mbappe made it 3-0 after being played through by Aurelien Tchouameni in the 21st minute and then wrapped it up with a cross-shot shot two minutes from time.

It was Mbappe's first game as team captain after Hugo Lloris announced his international retirement and the Paris St Germain forward led by example while keeper Mike Maignan saved a late penalty in a flawless performance.

"There were a lot of positive vibes when they all gathered on Monday and I wanted them to transfer those vibes onto the pitch and that's what they all did," coach Didier Deschamps told a news conference.

"It was a great night, in a great atmosphere, with a very good start. Leading the Netherlands 3-0 so quickly is not nothing even though they were missing a lot of players.

"In the second half we were still threatening even if we were just happy with controlling the game."

Among those who shone was Randal Kolo Muani, even if the forward did not find the back of the net.

"He's full of confidence. He moves very well, dribbles very well, and there is a lot of understanding between the offensive players," said Deschamps.

France lead Group B ahead of Greece, who beat Gibraltar 3-0 away.

Next up for Les Bleus is Ireland at Dublin's Aviva Stadium while the Dutch will host Gibraltar.

Deschamps's counterpart Ronald Koeman, back on the national team's bench after a first stint from 2018-2020, endured a day to forget.

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